EDUCATIONAL INCUBATION & HATCHING CHAT THREAD, w/ Sally Sunshine Shipped Eggs

[Fire Ant Farm]

@Fire Ant Farm I have three ducks that you can process right now! I will even help you! Come and get them! I will throw in five or seven roosters too! Maybe eight pullets if you have room!

Oh, gosh!!! I'd take you up on it, but my freezer is actually pretty full right now. Just planning for next season, as it empties...

You have muscovies, right? That is the other breed I was looking at seriously... It appealed to me that they were more independent and "tough".

- Ant Farm

 

[BullChick]

I house my ducks and chooks together and everything works perfect. I made a waterer that keeps everything dry with a 2 x 4 and a thin board- easy peasy!

And I have my ducks trained to go to bed in command, so bedtime works fine.

Isn't it nice how the ducks listen?
I recently realized that my dish pan is 4 1/2 gallons. I plan on picking some more up for the flock. It's tall enough that I don't think that the ducks will get into it. We will see. My Tractor Supply never seems to have big enough rubber bowls. This will definitely hold enough water!!

 

[BullChick]

Oh, gosh!!! I'd take you up on it, but my freezer is actually pretty full right now. Just planning for next season, as it empties...

You have muscovies, right? That is the other breed I was looking at seriously... It appealed to me that they were more independent and "tough". 

- Ant Farm 

The drakes I am offering up are two mallards and a Pekin someone dropped off. The Muscovy is the only kind of duck I have ever eaten. I ate a drake before giving the others away. I do have one girl left to make mule ducks. Though if I understand correctly, her babies will be hinnies. Not mules. They will still be sterile, and great for meat.
I do not recommend raising Muscovies for their meat. While their meat is less greasy than the Pekin, they have tallons. Just picking one up, I have scars on my arms and stomach. Even through a sweatshirt.
My actual "breed" is Pekin.

 

[BantyChooks]

But... you're the DUCK Whisperer! I couldn't POSSIBLY accomplish that... 

Sure you could. I did it in a week.

Just herd 'em in and say the same thing every time.... I say "Time for bed." Within a week they started heading to the coop by themselves just when I said that and walked toward them.

Isn't it nice how the ducks listen?
I recently realized that my dish pan is 4 1/2 gallons. I plan on picking some more up for the flock. It's tall enough that I don't think that the ducks will get into it. We will see. My Tractor Supply never seems to have big enough rubber bowls. This will definitely hold enough water!!

They listen SO well compared to chickens!!

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Quote: Oh, my. Good to know. Back to Anconas or Cayugas then...

Quote: That sounds very appealing... Except my chickens listen to me. Well, ok, only some of the time...

- Ant Farm

 

[BantyChooks]

Oh, my. Good to know. Back to Anconas or Cayugas then... 

That sounds very appealing... Except my chickens listen to me. Well, ok, only some of the time...

- Ant Farm  

My chickens start playing "catch me if you can" when I say "bedtime". I have learned to start locking them up 30 min early if I gotta go somewhere.

 

[BantyChooks]

I was out taking pics of the chooks when they were free ranging, and the ducks kept following me around.

They're hilarious.... I love them SO much.

 

[BantyChooks]

Um, Kristin, Chrissy thinks you missed something on your shortlist of duck breeds...

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Quote:
Mine just put themselves to bed - reliably enough that I put in automatic doors. I have groups of different ages - I find the older they get, the earlier they go to roost, while the "younguns" tend to stay out later, though they go to roost no later than 15 minutes after sundown. Each group has a rooster, and they lead the girls to roost (and out the door the next morning as well). I can't imagine not having the roosters lead each group - the hens get a little flakey sometimes, and their butts are in the air all the time.

I was out taking pics of the chooks when they were free ranging, and the ducks kept following me around.

They're hilarious.... I love them SO much.

Duck pusher....

- Ant Farm

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Um, Kristin, Chrissy thinks you missed something on your shortlist of duck breeds...

Welshies are still under consideration - just looking at bigger ducks because I plan to...

(cover Chrissy's ears)

...eat them...

- Ant Farm